Eighty-year-old trainer Bart Cummings landed his 13th Australian Cup with Sirmione at Flemington yesterday, 40 years after his first with Arctic Coast.
An upset winner of the Mackinnon Stakes at $61 on Derby Day at Flemington last spring, Sirmione gave Cummings the 248th and 249th Group One winsof the Hall Of Fame trainer's amazing career.
"I think I'm learning with age," the master trainer quipped.
Sent out at $3.80 and ridden by Peter Mertens, Sirmione swept around the field after settling back second last and quickly had the race in his keeping.
Damien Oliver, who rode the $2.80 favourite Princess Coup, had the New Zealand-trained mare on the inside of Sirmione in eighth place. But Oliver elected to look for runs on the inside and completely missed the boat.
The Mark Walker-trained Princess Coup, who defeated Sirmione last start in the St George Stakes at Caulfield, managed to make up several lengths on the winner but was still beaten by 3 3/4 lengths.
Cummings' son Anthony's Casino Prince was a long head away third ahead of Caulfield Cup runner-up Douro Valley.
Trainer David Hayes and managing part-owner John Messara announced the retirement of five-time Group One winner Miss Finland after the race.
"It was surprising how well he won. The others mightn't be as good as we thought. I don't know," Cummings said of Sirmione.
"I thought he'd win by half a head or half a length, but that was quite impressive."
Cummings said the 4-year-old would now go to Sydney for the A$2.25 million The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 19.
"He was a bit unlucky in the Queensland Derby [when third to stablemate Empires Choice] when he went out wide and peaked a few yards from the post," he said.
"The BMW might be a nice race for him."
The victory was 46-year-old Mertens' career best and his sixth Group One win.
"He [Mertens] did what I told him when some of the others didn't and the results have been marvellous," Cummings said of his association with the jockey.
Mertens was having his third Australian Cup ride having finished runner-up on Candy Vale two years ago.
"As soon as I got him on the outside of Miss Finland I knew he was about to win. It was a really good feeling," he said.
